Preston Center Association created to lobby City Hall

By Josh Hixson, Staff Writer, People Newspapers
Issue Date: July 17, 2009

After several Preston Center businesses closed their doors in 2008, a group of concerned area business owners formed the Preston Center Association to consolidate their interests, improve networking, and lobby the city for neighborhood improvements.

“We had a few of our customers that we do business with that went out of business, and it woke me up to think maybe there is something we can do,” said Preston Center Association president Tom Cunningham, a vice president of Colonial Bank.

Cunningham said the initial effect of forming the association has been an increased amount of networking among members.

The long-term vision of the association is to transform Preston Center into a place where people can live, work, and play, said member Kyle Crews, a vice presdient of Allie Beth Allman and Associates. Crews has been involved in similar associations in Uptown and Turtle Creek and said he’s seen how such groups can lobby for change in the city of Dallas.

“When you have a common voice, [City Council members] tend to maybe listen a little better. When you are speaking on behalf of your neighbors, your neighborhood, and merchants, it is very effective,” Crews said. “These are lessons we learned in the early days of working in Uptown and Turtle Creek.”

One of the first major issues the group hopes to tackle is making Preston Center more walkable for residents and customers. They plan to work with the city to improve the sidewalks and lighting, as well as upgrade landscaping.

“The city only has so much money, so there will be situations when the private sector will help raise money,” Crews said.

At the end of the day, the success or failure of the group will be based on whether or not it can increase customer traffic to Preston Center.

“One of the things that attracted me to buying this place is I just saw a lot of untapped potential,” said Bill Cohn, owner of MinuteMan Press of Preston Center and vice president of the Preston Center Association. “There is just a lot of stuff that can be done [to increase customer traffic.]”

Area residents are welcome to join the association, and membership is completely open to “anyone who is interested,” Cohn said.

“Everybody around here will see a difference if we can upgrade the situation in the area,” Cohn said.